Robin Alexander
Robin Alexander is one of Germany’s most influential journalists and is widely recognized as an author, long-standing observer of politics, and a distinctive voice in Berlin’s political scene. In his podcast ‘Machtwechsel’, he comments on developments in the German capital together with Dagmar Rosenfeld. From 2019 to 2025, he served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief for politics at „Die Welt“.
Prof. Rüdiger Bachmann
Prof. Rüdiger Bachmann is Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Until 2025, he taught at the University of Notre Dame, Goethe University Frankfurt (SAFE) and RWTH Aachen University. His research focuses on macroeconomics and economic policy analysis.
![[Translate to English:] Rüdiger Ballheimer](/fileadmin/Bilder_Investment_Fokus/IF_2027/R%C3%BCdiger_Ballheimer_sw_200x200.png)
Walter Ballheimer
Walter Ballheimer is Co-Founder and CEO of Reflex Aerospace, a company focused on manufacturing the next generation of high-performance, consistently payload-centric satellites. Prior to this, he successfully founded the satellite manufacturer German Orbital Systems and, as CTO of Exolaunch, oversaw the deployment of more than 100 satellites into orbit.
![[Translate to English:] Prof. Lars P. Feld](/fileadmin/Bilder_Investment_Fokus/IF_2027/Feld__Lars_Portrait_sw-200x200__1_.jpg)
Prof. Lars P. Feld
Prof. Lars P. Feld has held the Chair of Economic Policy and Ordoliberalism at the University of Freiburg since 2010 and serves as Director of the Walter Eucken Institute. From 2011 to 2021, he was a member of the German Council of Economic Experts and served as its Chairman in his final year.
![[Translate to English:] Dr. Florence Gaub](/fileadmin/_processed_/9/0/csm_Gaub__Florence_-sw-200x200_c0ec1a6329.jpg)
Dr. Florence Gaub
Dr. Florence Gaub serves as Director of Research at the NATO Defense College in Rome and advises governments and international organizations based on future scenarios. Since 2023, she has been a member of the World Economic Forum’s Future Council on Complex Risks, where she analyzes risks arising from the interplay of long-term megatrends.
![[Translate to English:] Thomas Jahn](/fileadmin/user_upload/Thomas_Jahn.jpg)
Thomas Jahn
Thomas Jahn is Head of Technology Team at Handelsblatt. He studied economics and political science in Cologne and Tokyo. He developed his journalistic expertise in various local newsrooms in the Eifel region and at German School of Journalism in Munich. After many years at business magazine Capital, he joined Handelsblatt at the end of 2011, initially working in its New York correspondent office.
![[Translate to English:] Sebastian Klaus](/fileadmin/Bilder_Investment_Fokus/IF_2027/Sebastian_Klaus_sw_200x200.png)
Sebastian Klaus
Sebastian Klaus is Co-Founder and CEO of ATMOS Space Cargo, a European space company developing and operating reusable, return-capable spacecraft for in-orbit logistics and return missions to Earth. In doing so, ATMOS is building a critical dual-use infrastructure for Europe’s access to space.
Ralf Lochmüller
Ralf Lochmüller is Managing Partner and CEO of Lupus alpha. He is responsible for Strategy & Planning as well as Corporate Communications. He has been active in asset management for more than 35 years – among others at Chase AG in Frankfurt and at Invesco, the American-British investment company. In October 2000, he founded Lupus alpha with four partners.
![[Translate to English:] Erik Lundberg](/fileadmin/Bilder_Investment_Fokus/IF_2027/Lundberg__Erik_-_sw-200x200_Kopie.jpg)
Erik Lundberg
Erik Lundberg is CIO of the University of Michigan, where he is responsible for managing an investment portfolio of approximately USD 22 billion. He has received numerous awards for his work, including being named Endowment CIO of the Year by Institutional Investor in 2024. He has also been repeatedly listed among the world’s top 25 CIOs by "Chief Investment Officer".
![[Translate to English:] Oliver Schmitz](/fileadmin/Bilder_Investment_Fokus/IF_2027/Schmidt_Oliver_Metzler_sw_200x200.jpg)
Oliver Schmidt
Oliver Schmidt has been with Metzler since 2009 and has served as Managing Director of Metzler Asset Management GmbH since 2024. As CIO, he is responsible for portfolio management, the Sustainable Investment Office, Applied Research, Economic Research, and the Trading Desk. From 2006 to 2008, he worked as an assistant to the management at BASF in Lampertheim.
![[Translate to English:] Steffen Sihler](/fileadmin/user_upload/Steffen_Sihler_sw.JPG)
Steffen Sihler
Steffen Sihler is Head of Capital Investments at SV Sparkassen-Versicherung. In this role, he has been responsible since November 2024 for the management and further development of the insurer’s entire investment portfolio, excluding real estate. Prior to this, he held senior positions for many years within the Wüstenrot & Württembergische Group.
![[Translate to English:] Britta Weidenbach](/fileadmin/Bilder_Investment_Fokus/IF_2027/Britta_Weidenbach_sw_200x200.png)
Britta Weidenbach
Britta Weidenbach is Managing Partner and CIO at AURETAS family trust GmbH. In this role, she is responsible for strategic asset allocation, asset management, and the ongoing development of the firm’s investment philosophy. Prior to this, she spent more than two decades at DWS Group, where she managed fund assets in the double-digit billions.
![[Translate to English:] Susanne Wiegand](/fileadmin/_processed_/1/a/csm_Susanne_Wiegand_sw_200x200_c947cfc3d4.png)
Susanne Wiegand
Susanne Wiegand is an internationally experienced supervisory board member with a focus on industry, security, and corporate governance, holding mandates including at Volkswagen AG and Brenntag SE. She previously served as CEO of RENK Group AG and held senior leadership positions for many years in the naval and defense industries.
Corinna Wohlfeil
Corinna Wohlfeil studied economics with a focus on banking. She initially worked as an investment advisor and, from 1997, as head of Deutsche Bank’s business TV. In 2001, she joined the news channel ‘ntv’ as a presenter and editor. Through the daily stock market program ‘Telebörse’ and her live coverage from the Frankfurt trading floor, she quickly became known to an audience of millions.
Dr. Melinda Crane
Dr. Melinda Crane is a sought-after political commentator. An experienced journalist, lawyer and political economist, she analyses geopolitical developments and transatlantic politics for various German radio and television stations as well as international organisations and corporations. She also hosts political programmes and news magazines.